The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-25
undiguifed tear dropped on the little

thoughts in a turmult as to "what
mamma would think" to see her talking
to this handsome man, whose admlring
brown eyes were harder to meet than the
CLASSY stare sic had anticipated.
The editor unfoldcd the paper and
glanced over the pages, pausing occasie l.
ally to read sentence through.
Blanche sat with downcast eyes. Moth
ing broke the silence save the rustling of
the papers and the ticking of the clock.
"Ahem! excuse me, but is this part OF
the story?" asked the editor, as he held
up before her gaze-horror of horrors
the very letter she had received from the
u Magazine
In her haste and enthusiasm over her
"great lark" she he'd gathered up with
the manuscript, the letter which had
been lying open upon it, and the editors
quick eye had grasped its contents at a
glance.
Blanche gave one terrified look, and
then, foryctful of everything, sprang
forward and clutched the fatal letter.
"Oh, how could you'll" she gasped,
with little sob, glaring at the inno-
Gently offending editor through her
tears.
sMy dear young lady, it was wholly
unintcntional on my part! had looked
at it before 1 thought of its not belong
ing to the story. Never mind" con.
tinued this soft hearted editor, growing
confidential in his efforts to be consoling,
sI once received the same kind of let
ter. Your story is very pretty one,
prettily told, and think L can use it IN
my magazine"
He would probably have taken it, if it
had been a mother goose rhyme, so thor
ouehly sympathetic had he become under
the magic influence of the bright tears.
"Well," said Blanche, recovering her
sclf-possession, II will tell you all about
it." and in simple, straightforward
manner she told him of the return of the
manuscript, and the letter accompanying
it. 'I did not mean that you should
know it had been declined once" she
said, with charming candor, the swift
bushes dyeing her checks. "Was it
very wrong for me not to tell you"
"Not at ALL" said this unabashcd
young man, smiling in spite of himself at
her earneStness.
"Why!" he exclaimed, rs he noticed
the name and address at the bottom OF
the last page, "do you live at No. 37S
c. street2"
eyes, I have lived there FIVE years."
"Then am delighted to have met my
next-door neighbor. I live at No. GIL"
1t was now Blanche's turn to be aston
ished. To think that she had thus igno.
miniously introduced herself to her near.
est neighbor!
"Why, have never seen you," she be-
gan.
sNor I you," he interrupted, ''but
that is not so very strange. l have been
boarding there for only two weeks, and
as 1 90 away quite early in the morning,
and it is dark when I get home these
short afternoons, we could easily miss
seeing each other"
well" said Blanche laughingly, COM
the novelty of the situation,
'I feel heartily ashamed that you have
met me under such unfavorable circum-
stances. In the first place had expected
to see baldheaded old man. had the
that all editors were old and
bald. Being completely surprised at not
finding the individual I had pictured to
myself, and being little conscience
stricken over my deceit concerning the
fear lost my self-pcsses-
sion."
"You are certainly excusable under
these circumstances, said the editor,
smiling. "By- -the-way, I beg the liberty
to tell you my name; my name is also
acknowledgement Douglas" and he
drew from his pocket card, which he
passed to her.
"DIiss Raymond" continued this au-.
dacious young man, ~ will look over
this manuscript carefully, and if I should
happen to find some little mistakes might
I"-hesitatingly-"might call, say to-
morrow evening, to have you rectify
them2 know that you would much pre-
fer correcting them in your own way,
and would be extremely happy to afford
you that privilege. Beside, am
neighbor, and sometimes very lonely"
he added, with melancholy glance
from the brown eyes.
How could Blanche refuse this hand
some young editor who had all the wiles
of his profession2 Besides, was it not
very kind of him to take such an interest
in her poor little story2
With blush and smile she told him
he might come, and then, with a pleas
ant good-by, left Mr.. Douglas to dream
of pair of gray eyes glistening through
bright tears. and q sweet, sensitive
mouth saying: GLOW could you'll" in re-
proachful accents.
Did he find any mistakes2 Trust to
RAYMOND Douglas for that! The next
evening found him fairly introduced at
No. 373. The acquaintanccship begun
under such novel circumstances pro-
gressed rapidly in the forty-tivc minutes
Mr.. Douglas spent under the hospitable
roof of his next-door neighbor, and kind
invitation to "call again" sent him on his
way, rejoicing that fate had cast his lot
in such a pleasant place. And Blanche2
All, she was but girl-and what girl
has not had bright dreams2
Time passed on, bringing in the New
Year, bringing the first faint breezes of
spring and the perfume of the earliest
violets, bringing Raymond Douglas often
to the house of the gray eyed damsel, and
bringing true, pure love to the hearts
of these two.
And so, when the old earth looked its
faircst in its emerald robe and flower gar
H.